Granola Dust

I love cooking breakfast but since I eat at 5:30am during the week it’s not easy to concoct lavish breakfasts. With eyes half closed, hair up in a messy bun, and slippers on, I turn to a couple of different meals that keep me full until lunchtime, often more than 7 hours later.

I’ll go through my breakfast pantry essentials and more of my favorite meals at a later time, but right now we are talking about the easiest and most well-balanced breakfast in a bowl.

Granola Dust.

No, this is not a magical fairy powder. It’s a breakfast cereal tastier and more nutritious than anything you’ll find at the grocery store. It may be magical in its versatility though… This cereal is a simple customizable blend of oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit that can be married with a splash of milk or a dollop of yogurt. Served cold or hot. You can even stir it together the night before, so it’s ready to eat straight from the fridge.

You can adapt this recipe to your tastes and preferences. Change up the types of nuts, opt for ground coffee instead of cocoa, use more or less fruit to suit your sweet tooth. Sweater weather is around the corner folks, so I will probably begin adding a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to mine for warm spice notes 🙂

Not only is this recipe easy, versatile, and customizable, but it’s full of so many nutrients that your body craves. One scoop is full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, fat, complex carbohydrates, and protein. No need to dig through the fridge every morning to find vegetables to serve with your eggs and whole grain toast to ensure you’re saying hello to all of your major nutrients. (Although that sounds like an amazing breakfast too). Give granola dust a try!

Granola Dust
(adapted from Jamie Oliver)

5 c oats
1 oz ground flaxseed*
1 oz wheat germ*
4 oz unsalted nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.)
4 oz dried fruit (dates, prunes, raisins, etc.)
2 T cocoa powder
pinch of salt

Toast oats and nuts in a dry pan over medium heat until warm and fragrant, stirring frequently.

Stir together all ingredients and pulse in food processor,
in batches if necessary, until a rough powder.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Serving size: 1/2 cup

*Note: Omit or substitute as you wish. I always have flaxseed and wheat germ in my freezer because they last forever and it’s easy to sprinkle a bit in whenever you want it. Other ingredients like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds would also fit in very well.